MANILA — The Magnolia Hotshots clinched the second seed and the twice-to-beat advantage that goes with it after routing the Meralco Bolts, 94-65, in a PBA Philippine Cup road game in Cagayan de Oro City Saturday night.

The San Miguel Beermen (8-2) earlier clinched the top seed even though they still have a game left in their elimination round schedule.

The Hotshots thus finished the elims with an 8-3 win-loss card. It marked the first time that Magnolia won an out-of-town game, having lost four straight road games extending up to the last conference.

The loss eliminated Meralco as the Bolts finished the conference with a 7-4 mark, thus placing 11th in the standings, just a rung higher than also-rans Kia (1-10)

Coming back from sickbay, Paul Lee led the Hotshots, finishing with 21 points, including three triples, in less than 20 minutes. Ian Sangalang and Robbie Herndon added 12 and 10 points, respectively. Sangalang also had six boards, and one block in just 16 minutes, while Herndon added four rebounds, and one assist to his stats sheets.

The Hotshots led by as many as 31 points and were never seriously threatened. They shot a sizzling 48 percent from the field, making 37 of their 77 shots. On the other end, Magnolia limited Meralco to a woeful 35-percent shooting. In the third quarter, the Hotshots outscored the Bolts, 24-16, to pull away.

Chris Newsome led Meralco with 13 points. Seldom-used bench player Joseph Sedurifa added 10 points.

Gilas roster change: Meanwhile, Gilas Pilipinas is adding two other speedy guards and a frontliner in the second window of the Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifier game against Japan on Sunday night. Gilas coach Chot Reyes announced that he has re-inserted Jayson Castro, Jio Jalalon, and Troy Rosario back in the 12-man lineup, taking out Kevin Alas, Carl Bryan Cruz, and Abu Tratter.

Reyes did not field Castro, Jalalon, and Rosario in the game against Australia in Melbourne on Thursday, citing the players’ injuries for their non-inclusion. The trio will rejoin June Mar Fajardo, Gabe Norwood, Calvin Abueva, Japeth Aguilar, Roger Pogoy, Kiefer Ravena, Matthew Wright, Allen Maliksi, and naturalized center Andray Blatche.

Gilas earlier defeated Japan, 77-71, in the Japanese homecourt at the start of the qualifiers last November.

However, Reyes warned that Japan is fielding a new team and will be out for revenge when it goes up against Gilas. The Japanese have so far lost all their three games, with the most recent being the 69-70 heartbreaker at home against the visiting Chinese Taipei squad. Reyes said this makes the Japanese squad even more dangerous as they are expected to go all out for a victory on Sunday against Gilas.

Gilas engaged Australia in a close contest at least in the first half of their game last Thursday before bowing to the bigger and better Boomers, ranked 10th strongest in the world.

Game Sunday: (Fiba 2019 World Cup Asian Qualifiers) Gilas Pilipinas (2-1) vs. Japan (0-3).